Brick pallet unloader



April 23, 1957 I N. K\ESSELAK ETAL 2,789,857

BRICK PALLET UNLOADER Filed April 20, 1956 I INVENTOR5 SA omma wi$z4z BY Jo/m flassanz United States Patent ice BRICK PALLET UNLOADER Nicholas Kesselak and John Kesselak, Johnstown, Pa.

Application April 20, 1956, Serial No. 579,506 Claims. (Ci. 294-s 2 The present invention relates to brick pallet unloader and has for its primary object to provide a device for lifting brick stacks off wooden or other pallets on which the stacks rest during transportation of the brick stacks to the end that the pallets may be immediately returned to the brick yard or other source of the bricks for immediate reuse and to avoid charges which are made by the brick yard incident to the retaining of the pallets by the customer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brick pallet unloade'r which on delivery of the brick is designed to immediately lift the brick stack from the pallet and release the pallet for immediate return and also to provide a device which will firmly'grip the bricks in a manner to prevent the collapse of the stack or the incidental dropping of any of the bricks which would of course permit the collapse of the stack.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a brick pallet unloader in which the weight of the brick stack is utilized to move frames in opposite directions forcibly 'il'p'on the brick stack to compress the bricks into a unitar-y stack so that the same may be lifted as a unit from the pallet and moved to a destination preselected by the customer. I

Other objects of the inventionare to provide a brick pallet unloader of a simple mechanical form operating by a simple mode of operation which developes pressure of the unloading device upon the brick stack by virtue of the support of the stack from an overhead crane or the like by which the stack may also, besides being lifted, be transported horizontally to a desired location in the customers warehouse; the device being fabricated of few and simple parts 'ruggedly combined to meet the requiremerits of this load and strain to which they are subjected in use"; the invention also involves a novel form of locking and releasing device by which the side frames referred to may be held in'an outstanding or distended position for lowering the same over the brick stack while it rests upo the pallet down to a position where, upon release of the locking device, the names may be moved together into gripping relatien upon the external bricks of the stack.

' With the foregoing and other'objec'ts in view the inventi n will seniors particularly described hereinafter and in detail pointed out in the sub-joined claims.

In the drawings in which like parts are denoted by the saline reference numerals throughout the various figures,

Figure 1 i an isometric view of 1 brick pallet unloader constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in the eiitend'e'd or distended position and with the locking device in the locked position,

figure 2 is' an end elevationalview of the unloader with the lock released and the deviceshown in tightgr'ippingarelation to'astaek of bricks held therewithin,

Figure 3 is a partial end elevational view of the im loader showing the parts distended and the locking dethedked position.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of an overhead beam to 2,789,857 Patented Apr. 23, 1957 which the end cables of the unloader may be attached and which beam may be carried by an overhead crane, winch or the like.

Figure S is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the toggle links showing the cable sheave associated therewith.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one of the side frames showing a toggle pin projecting therefrom with the toggle lever shown in cross-section as engaging one of the stops; and

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the locking device in locked position with a portion of the operating mechanism shown in dotted lines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A and B designate side frames which are connected together at their ends by upper toggle levers C and D and by lower toggle levers E and F.

The frames A and B may be constructed as desired. A preferred form is illustrated in which these frames are of open substantially rectangular form composed of top or horizontal rails 10 and 10', bottom horizontal rails 11 and 11' and end or vertical bars 12 and 12 and 13 and 13'.

The upper toggle levers C and D are alike and are composed of toggle links 14, 14' and l5, 15'. These links are overlapped at their inner portions where they are pivoted together upon the upper toggle central pivots l6 and 16'. The outer end of thelinks are pivoted upon end pivot pins 17 and 18 which are welded or otherwise carried by the side frames A and B and project from the ends thereof.

The upright Webs 19 of stop devices are also welded or otherwise secured to the ends of the frames A and B in association with the toggle pivots l7 and 13. The outturne'd horizontal webs 20 of these stop devices override the toggle links 14, 14' and 15, 15 so as to arrest undue upward swinging movements of the toggle levers. In Figure 6 one of the toggle links 14' is shown as abutting against its associated web stop 26. Spacers 21, also shown in Figure 6, may be interposed between the links and the webs 19 if desired. In this Figure 6 is also illustrated a washer 22 placed on the stud or pivot 18 outwardly of the link 14 and cotter key 23 mounted through the outer end of the stud or pivot 18 for holding the assembly in place, which assembly includes the washer 22, toggle link 14' and spacer 21.

The lower toggle levers comprise links 2a, 2% and 25' which are overlapped at their inner ends and pivoted together on a pivot bolt or pin 26, 26", theouter ends of the links-being pivoted respectively upon the studs or pivot pins 27, 28 which outstand from the ends of the side frames A and B to which they may be secured by welding or otherwise.

Associated with the lower toggle links are stop members which comprise the upright webs 29 welded or otherwise secured to the ends of the side frames A and B at their lower portions thereof and horizontal outstanding webs 30 positioned to engage beneath the lower toggle links in order to intercept the same and form stops to limit the downward motion of the links. I

The upper toggle levers at both ends of the device are provided with downwardly extending eyes 31, 31', which in the single form of the invention shown in the drawings, are carried by the lower edges of the toggle links 15, 15 These eyes are provided for the attachment of the ends of the cables having downward runs 32, 32' to sheaves 33 carried upon the central pivot pins 26, 26' of the lower toggle levers. After being rove about the sheaves 33, as seen to advantage in Figure 5, the cables may pass upwardly into upwardly extending runs 34 amiss; The upward runs 34, 34' may pass tn r'sngng'aidesleevs -35 carried by the links 14, 14 of the'u perreggm'nvers.

The upwardly extending runs 34, 34' of the cables, as

3 shown in Figure 4, may be carried to an overhead beam 36 which in turn may be carried by a clevis and cable 38 to a crane, winch or other type of lifting and lowering device which also preferably has a horizontal motion.

Referring more particularly to Figure 7 there is illustrated one form of locking and release device which is preferably repeated at both ends of the unloader and associated with the upper and lower pairs of toggle levers. Each such locking and release device is composed of a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel links 39, 40 which overlap the upper toggle links 15, and are pivoted thereto as indicated at 41, a lower link 42 having its upper end received between the lower ends of the pair of links 39, 40 and pivoted thereto upon a central pivot 43 with the lower end of the lower link 42 being formed into a perforated claw 44 to receive a pivot 45 by which the lower end of the lower link is connected to the link 25, of the lower toggle lever.

A stop plate 46 is welded or otherwise secured to the links 39, 40 and has a portion extending downwardly and overlapping the link 42 so as to prevent the toggle lever constituted by the links 39, 4t) and 42 from passing beyond the dead center position shown in Figure 7 in a righthand direction.

Sockets or sleeves 47, 47 are carried by the lower portions of the stop plates 46 at each end of the device.

Latch blocks or abutments 59 project outwardly from the side frame A in position to be engaged by the handle bar 49 in one position as hereinafter described.

While it is not absolutely necessary, slots 51 may be provided in the sockets 47, 47 in which pins 52 on the handle bar inturned ends 48, 48' play back and forth limiting the telescopic movement of the members 48, 48' axially in the sockets 47, 47.

In Figure 3 a stack of bricks 53 is shown as resting upon a conventional wooden pallet 54.

In operation, when bricks are delivered to customer from a brick yard, stacks 53 of the bricks occupy pallets 54 in a truck or other transportation vehicle. These bricks 53 must be lifted off the pallets 54 and swung clear of the truck and preferably to a desired destination point at the delivery end.

In order to accomplish this result, the unloader of this invention is initially placed in the position and condition of Figure l in which all of the toggle levers C, D, E and F are in locked position, by which it is meant that all centers 16, 17, 1S and 26, 27, 28 are respectively in alignment. This may be accomplished, if the device is in the contracted position of Figure 2 by forcing first downwardly upon the handle bar 49 in its outwardly extended position with the pins 52 engaging the outer ends of the slots 51 in the sockets 47, 47'. By applying downward thrust on the handle bar 49 in this outwardly projected position the same may clear the latch blocks or abut-. ments 50 while causing locking of the links 39, 4t) and 42 about their respective pivot points 41, 43 and 45 which involves straightening these links into substantially vertical alignment as shown in Figures 1 and 7 and at the same time bringing the pivot points 41, 43 and 45 into similar vertical alignment. The lower portion of the stop plate 46 will be moved, in this motion, up against the bottom link 42 of the latch and release device thus preventing the center pivot 43 from moving over to the right, viewed in Figure 2, from a point beyond the vertical center line drawn through the pivots 41, 43 and 45.

Upon the completion of this movement the handle bar 49 will have arrived at a position where the handle bar can be pushed inwardly toward the side frame A and beneath the latch blocks or abutments 50 to the positions of Figures 1 and 3. Thus these blocks or abutments 50 will prevent the raising of the handle bar 49 until pulled outwardly and the locked condition of the device will maintain until, reversely, the handle bar 49 is pulled out clear of the latch blocks or abutments 50 and then raised to the position of Figure 2.

In accomplishing the shifting of the latch and release device to the positions of Figures 3 and 7 the toggle levers which connect the frames A and B will also be moved into toggle lock positions, namely to the position of Figure 1 in which the upper toggle links 14, 14' and 15, 15' are raised to the limit permitted by the stop webs 20. Correspondingly, the lower toggle levers will be lowered so that the links 24, 24 and 25, 25 thereof are moved downward into engagement with the stop webs 30.

All this may be very easily accomplished when the unloader is devoid of load and is suspended from the cables 34, 34 without weight except that inherent in the loader itself.

The movement of the end toggle levers C, D, E and F involves lengthening of the runs or strands 32, 32 of the cables as the distances between the hooks 31, 31' and the sheaves 33 has necessarily increased. The other parallel runs 34, 34' of the cables have moved down through the guide sheaves 35. This also involves the movement of the cables about the sheaves 33. I

Thereupon, with the device in the condition shown in Figure l, the unloader is lowered over the stack of bricks in the manner indicated in Figure 3, it being understood that in this condition the side frames A and B will be separated a distance at least slightly greater than the width of the brick stack 53.

When the unloader reaches the lowermost position in which the lower rails 11 and 11' of the side frames A and B are in position to engage the lowermost bricks of the stack 53, the lowering motion may be halted and the looking device released by pulling out upon the handle bar 49 and subsequently raising the same to the position of Figure 2 which will break the toggle lock at 43am! incidentally break the two end toggle levers 14, 14 and 15, 15 downwardly, while breaking the lower end toggle levers 24, 24 and 25, 25' upwardly in the manner shown in Figure 2.

Thereupon a lifting force will be applied to the overhead beam 36 and through the cables 34, 34' to the unloader. As the upward runs of the cables are lifted thrust will be applied through the sheaves 33 and eyes 31, 31 to further cause the end toggle levers C, D, E, and F to move mutually toward one another and thus to tend to collapse the side frames A and B toward one an.- other upon the brick stack 53. A tight clamping action will thus be had by the unloader upon the brick stack and as the load of the brick stack 53 is assumed by the unloader the weight of such brick stack devolving upon the cables will tend to further move the end toggle levers to cause tighter clamping action of the side frames A and B upon the brick stack. Thus the force of the clamping action between the unloader and the brick stack is direct} ly proportional to the weight of such brick stack. Other} wise stated, the greater the weight assumed by the nu.- loader, the greater the clamping action of the unloader upon the brick stack becomes. The mechanical advantage occurring through the use of the weight of the brick stack is multiplied because of the manner and arrangement of the cable runs 32, 32' and 34, 34 in connection with the sheaves 33 and the eyes 31, 31.

The device enables the brick stack to be tightly clamped, lifted from the pallet 54 and swung by crane action clear of the transportation vehicle and to a convenient repository in the customers warehouse.

The locking and releasing device provides quick and effective movement for shifting the unloader back and forth between the positions of Figures 1 and 2.

The device may be made of metal or other appropriate material.

Although we have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to us at this time, we reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims. i

What is claimed is: I v

1. A brick pallet unloader comprising spaced frames adapted to engage the stack of bricks, spaced pairs of toggle levers connecting the ends of said frames for movement of the frames toward and away from one another with the toggle levers breaking toward one another, stops on the frames for preventing the toggle levers from breaking away from one another and for aligning the toggle levers in toggle locked position, and flexible lifting cables slidably engaging one toggle lever and afiixed to the companion toggle lever at each end of the unloader.

2. A brick pallet unloader comprising spaced side frames adapted to grip a load of bricks, pairs of spaced toggle levers connected between the ends of said frames for moving the frames toward and from one another, stops on the frames for preventing the toggle levers from breaking outwardly away from one another, cables for supporting the unloader attached at one end to one toggle lever at each side of the device and sheaves carried by the other toggle levers for engaging the cables and forming bights therein and forming substantially parallel down and upward runs of the cable.

3. A brick pallet unloader comprising side frames spaced apart and adapted to grip a stack of bricks, toggle levers connected between said frames, toggle levers connected between the first mentioned toggle levers for locking and releasing the same, an operating means for said last named toggle levers comprising a swinging and 'reciprocating handle connected movably to said last 'named toggle levers, and a latch abutment on one of the frames positioned to be engaged by said handle in the toggle locked position of the last mentioned toggle levers when in the innermost position of the handle.

4. A brick pallet unloader comprising side frames, pairs of toggle levers connecting the ends of the side frames for movement toward and from one another, locking toggle levers connected between the pairs of first mentioned toggle levers, stop means connected to said locking toggle levers for permitting the breaking of the locking toggle levers in an outward direction only, sockets carried by said stop means, a handle having angularly disposed ends for fitting slidably in the sockets at both sides of the unloader and adapted to partake of the swinging movement of the stop means incident to opening and closing movements of the locking toggle levers, and a stop abutment on one of the frames positioned to be engaged by said handle when the locking toggle levers are in locked position and the ends of the handle are moved to an inner position in said sockets.

5. A brick pallet unloader as claimed in 4 further comprising means preventing the withdrawal of the handle ends from the sockets and permitting of a limited movement of such handle ends back and forth in the sockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,001 Penfield Ian. 21, 1913 

